Improvement in bracelet-fastenings



B. RANGER & 1. B. SMILEY.

Bracelet Fastenings.

NO. 143,382, Patented September30, I873.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BETHUEL RANGER AND JAMES B. SMILEY, OF BRATTLEBOROUGH, VT.

IMPROVEMENT IN BRACELET-FASTENINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 143,382, dated September 30, 1873; application filed May 5, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, BETHUEL RANGER and J AMIES B. SMILEY, of Brattleborough, county of Windham, State of Vermont, have invented a certain Improvement in Bracelet- Fastenings, of which the following is a specification:

The object of this invention'is to provide a simple, cheap, and substantial means of locking the spring clasp or catch of a bracelet, or other similar article; and it consists in hinging to the snap a movable piece, which, in its elevated position, serves as a push-piece to operate the snap, but which, when upset, locks the catch and prevents the bracelet from being unfastened.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a section of part of a bracelet, showing our improved fastening. Figs. 2 and 3 are detached views of the clasp and hinged piece, the former showing the piece upright and the latter upset. Fig. 4. is a perspective view of the bracelet closed and locked.

The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the various figures of the drawings.

a and b are the two parts of the bracelet, to one of which, I), is attached the spring-clasp c, which, in the ordinary manner, when the bracelet is closed, engages behind shoulders in the other part. At the upper end of the spring 0 is a forked piece, d, between the arms or prongs of which is pivoted a piece, 0, which serves the double purpose of a push-piece and a locking device. This piece 6 is partly rectangular, and is pivoted eccentrically and at one corner. When in its elevated position its base projects very slightly below the forked piece, and in that position it serves as a pushpiece to depress the spring. At the corner f it is provided with a stud to prevent its being turned backward beyond its proper vertical. position. In the act of depression, in turning upon its pivot, the corner at f impinges against the lower portion of the spring-snap, and in so doing elevates the upper portion, so that whenthe flat side is turned down against said lower portion, as shown in Fig. 3, the reaction of said spring will hold the piece in that position, like a closed clasp-knife, until positive force is exerted to turn it up. In this position, as shown in said figure, the upper portion of the snap will be so held thatit cannot be pushed down. Any downward pressure then exerted upon said push-piece will have no effect so far as causing the depression of the catch is concerned. The upper bearing sur face of the hinged push-piece is serrated, so that when the piece is upset, and in the locked position, and it is desired to elevate it, it can be readily grasped. The clasp-ends of the bracelet are appropriately slotted to accommodate this piece in its movements.

The bracelet when open will show the springclasp and the hinged piece in the positions illustrated in Fig. 2. It is closed in the ordinary manner by bringing the two parts a and 12 together, when the claspwill catch behind shoulders formed for that purpose in the part a. When closed the hinged piece is upset and brought into the position shown in Fig.3, when the clasp will be securely locked and the hinged piece will be held to its position by the reaction of the spring until sufficient force is exerted to elevate it. To unfasten the bracelet the hinged piece must be first restored to its upright position, and then sufficient pressure exerted upon it will release the clasp.

We claim as our invention-e The combination of an ordinary \lspring clasp with a pivoted push-piece, which, when. upright,.serves as a push-piece to compress the spring, and, when upset, or turned down, interposes between the two leaves of the spring and prevents its compression.

BETHUEL RANGER. JAMES B. SMILEY.

Witnesses KITTREDGE HASKINS, WILLIAM E. WOOLLEY. 

